Silk Tonic are an indie-pop band from the outskirts of Montreal composed of two childhood friends that have been playing music together for as long as they can remember.
Matthew Brouillet, being the lead singer and drummer, alongside Mark Hodges, the lead guitarist and bassist. They started off in a band called OneFortySeven from 2017 to 2019, and in 2020, decided it was time to start their own project.
Their purpose is to share their love for music in the hopes that it will bring to others the same joy it brings them. Their recently released debut single, 'Summer Time', describes the feeling of meeting that special someone for the first time, when you struggle to keep your composure and feel overwhelmed by your emotions. It relates to the euphoria of being love struck.
We got the opportunity to chat with the guys on the new release, and their plans going forward.
Where are you from?
"We are from Varennes, a small town on the South Shore of Montreal."
When / how did you each start your musical journey?
Mark: "I played the piano for 3 years as a child, and started playing the bass at the age of 12. After falling in love with the acoustic guitar as a teenager, I shifted my attention to the electric guitar. I was a part of several musical projects and performed several times on stage."
-Matthew: "As a young boy, I was always fascinated by the drums. At the age of 6, my parents bought me my first drumset and djembe. From that moment on, I was hooked. As a young teen, I performed in several music concerts and slowly started to develop a love of signing. However, it is only during the last 3 years that I've really developed my vocal ability, which led to my first live performances as a vocalist about a year ago."
Which artists are you listening to at the minute?
"We both have very similar tastes in music, which is pretty cool. Our "gotos" at the moment are Valley, The 1975, Christian French, Lauv, Tom Misch, and of course, John Mayer."
Musically, who are your biggest influences?
"Our biggest musical influences are Coldplay, John Mayer, Bastille, and Tom Misch to name a few."
What would be your dream venue to play?
"The Bell Center and Osheaga both have a very special place in our hearts since we grew up around these venues. Elsewhere, our dream would probably be to perform at Madison Square Garden and at the O2 in London."
Can you sum up your signature sound in one sentence?
"We could describe our sound as a guitar-driven indie-pop vibe with smooth vocals."
You’ve just released your debut single ‘Summer Time’. How has the reaction been so far?
"The reaction has been amazing! We could not have imagined the release going any better. People are constantly writing to us saying they love the track, and the experience as a whole has been very positive for us so far."
Tell us a little about the track!
"The song is about the feeling of finding that special someone when you least expect it. It is a smooth acoustic song that brings you on a journey through the euphoria of that moment when you fall in love."
What was it about ‘Summer Time’ that made you want to release it as your debut?
"Just the way the song came about felt right to us. It paints a good picture of our songwriting style, and it felt natural for us to release it as a first single."
You’ve been friends since childhood. Do you find it really easy to work together and find your connection helps you to create something extra special?
"Yes it most certainly does in our case! The fact that we understand and complement each other makes the whole process a lot easier. We both know our strengths and weaknesses and we play off each other really well."
What do you hope people take away from listening to you guys?
"As artists, we hope to establish an emotional connection with our fans. Our objective is for people to connect with our music, whether it is through the vibe, the message."
What can we expect from Silk Tonic going forward?
"We are currently recording our next single and planning a few more releases for 2020. We are looking forward to working on a bigger project for 2021, possibly an EP and a few shows. You can definitely expect a lot from Silk Tonic!"
Listen to 'Summer Time' HERE Instagram: @silktonicmusic